Bess chooses her own path in an inhospitable environment that consistently fills her with guilt. Her childlike character is untrammelled by strict boundaries and her behaviour challenges stereotypes. Her marriage to a man who is not acceptable to her community causes offence but she chooses the path which innocence, love and her powerful instinct have chosen for her. It is a path of self-denial and self-sacrifice that elevates her, vindicating her final choice, however extreme it may seem.
This tender, deeply emotional work by Lars von Trier, is in both its versions (film and play) a paean to faith and devotion and a triumph of love, whose power touches and is perhaps identical with God.
cast
-
Roula Pateraki
Vingvind -
Ioanna Tsirigouli
Bess -
Akis Sakellariou
Jan -
Parthenopi Bouzouri
Dodo -
Giorgos Papapavlou
Dr Richardson -
Giannis Voyiatzis
Minister -
Evanthia Kourmouli
Sybilla -
Giorgos Ziovas
William -
Nikos Mavrakis
Terry -
Tasia Sofianidou
Stella -
Meletis Georgiadis
Elder, Doctor, Middle-aged man -
Andreas Antoniadis
Elder, Doctor, Man in bar -
Spiros Tsekouras
Elder, Doctor, Ugly man -
Kostas Korakis
Elder, Doctor, Sailor -
Vassiliki Antonarou
Woman -
Konstantinos Panagiotakis
Man